Fluid coupling



Spt. 19, 1944. C, A NERACHER 2,358,469

FLUID COUPLING Filed Feb. 13, 1941 Patented Sept. 19, 1944 lFLUID COUPLING Carl A. Neracher, Detroit, Mich.. assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application February 13, 1941, Serial No. 378,739

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fluid couplings of the kinetic type.

An object of the invention is the provision in a coupling of the foregoing type of a fluid working chamber characterized by smooth and structures preferably being principally fabricated (Cl. 6ft-54) from sheet metal stampings. While the improved coupling is particularly adapted for establishing a drive betweenva driving part such as the crank shaft I of an internal combustion engine, and a driven part such as the shaft II, it will be un- .interrupted lines such that the normal flow of derstood that couplings embodying the invention fluid is not impeded or interrupted, particularly can be utilized in drives other than those i/cr mowhen the coupling is operating under relatively tor vehicles. Y low or no slip condition, thus providing a cou- The coupling includes an annular casing I2 pling which is highly ecient in the transmission 10/ preferably of sheet metal and having separately of driving torque under average cruising condiformed Walls I3 and Ledge portions thereof betions. ing secured ".ogether as at I5. When employed Another object ofthe invention is the proas herein contemplated, the coupling functions vision in a coupling including cooperating vaned as a fly wheel structure and is provided with a structures of improved means for securing the ring gear i6- vanes thereof in fixed position, and to provide The casing wall I4 has a central opening theremeans of this character which does n ot adversein through which extends a hub-forming sleeve f ly affect the flow of fluid in the working chamber Il journalled on the driven shaft I I .and adapted when the coupling is operating under relatively t0 be Operably Connected thereto by af Suitable low or no slip condition. More particularly the v clutch (not shown), although if desired the sleeve invention provides lvane securing means which can be splined to the shaft II. A sealing unit, does not extend into the workingl chamber so as generally designated by the numeral I8, cooper, to interrupt or impede the flow of fluid when ates with the hub I'I to seal the opening in the the coupling is operating under relatively low casing wall I4. The casing wa1l'I3 is drivingly or no slip condition. 25 secured as by welding at I9 to a centrally aper- A still further object of the invention is the tured annulus 20 which, in turn, is secured by a provision of vane securing means which will explurality of bolts 2| or the like to a flange of the pedite and facilitate 'manufacture of the-coupling driving shaft I0. The hub-forming sleeve Il is and which will impart thereto strength characjournalled in a flange 22 `of the annulus 20 by a teristics. bearing unit 23. f

Another object of the invention is the provision Positioned within the casing I2 in juxtaposed ofmeans which impedes relatively high uid cirrelationship are the impeller and runner strucculation velocity between the runner and imtures, generally indicated at 24 and V25 reSlJee-v peller structures of the coupling thereby serving tively cooperating to form a working chamber for as a baille to facilitate a relatively high slip con- 35 the circulation of the fluid operating medium, dition, which means also cooperates in securing each structure including a plurality of circumthe vanes in fixed position. ferentially spaced, radially extending' vanes pro- Other objects of the invention will be more apviding iiuid passages.- In addition to the working parent from the following description taken in chamber there is also prOVded Within thecasing connection with the accompanying drawing, 1n 40 I2 an evacuating chamber 26 communicating which: with the working chamber.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view throng 'I'he impeller' structure includes an annular a coupling embodying the invention. dish-shaped sheet metal vane carrier or retainer Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 21 secured to the casing wall I3 by welding, as as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 45 indicated at 28, and having a plurality of cir- Fjg, 3 is a, view similar' to Fig, 2 but showing cumferentially spaced radially extending vanes, the attachment of the vanes ai; the radiany inner one of which is indicated at 29 preferably of sheet ends thereof. l l metal. The inner and outer edge portions oi' the The invention is illustrated and described carrier 21 are anged as indicated at 30 and 3| connection with a fluid coupling of the kinetic respectively. this arrangement facilitating hantype having a toroidal circuit for the working lling of the retainer and vanes during assembly liquid formed by juxtaposed annular vane imoperations and to improve the strength characpeller and runner structures, dished in cross secteristics of the structure. tion and opening one toward the other, these The Outer edge portion 0f the Carrier 21 iS PrO- vided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, one of which is shown at 32, adjacent the flange 30, and the inner edge portion thereof is similarly slotted adjacent the flange 3l. Each vane 29 is provided with a tab 33 in the radially outer end portion, which tab extends through a slot 32 of the carrierv 21 and is folded over on the outside surface thereof so that the tabs are disposed Without the fluid working chamber and hence do not adversel-y interrupt or impede the normal flow of uid within the latter. The radially inner end of each vane 29 is provided with a tab 3| which extends through one of the slots adjacent the flange 3| and is folded over on the outside surface of the carrier. In this manner the Y tabs 33 and 34 are not disposed within the passages provided by the adjacent vanes. Any

`tendency of the foregoing slots to elongate in a 'vanes 35, The carrier 35 has a central section 31 provided with an opening therein through which extends the sleeve forming-hub I1, the latter having an annular radially extending flange 38. An

annular baille member 39 has a portion thereof parallel with and disposed between the flange 38 and section 31, the baille 39,1lange 33'and section 31 having aplurality of registering openings receiving rivets, one of which isshown at 40, by which va baille 39 and carrier 35 are drivingly se- .cured to the sleeve l1. The baille 39 has a portion Il thereof extending into the fluid working chamber in abutting relationship to the vane edges and is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, one of which is indicated The carrier or retainer 35 has the radially outer` free edge portion thereof flanged as at I3 and adjacent the latter is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots one of which ls shown at L Each vane 35 has a tab I5 which extends through one of the slots M and is folded over on the outer surface ofA the retainer 35.

Each vane is also provided with a tab 43 adacent the radially inner end thereof which extends through a slot l2 in the baille portion 4I fand is bent over the surface thereof adjacent the` impeller structure 2l. The tabs 4I are preferably tapered so that when inserted through a slot 42, a

wedging effect is obtained in `the nal assembly.-

If desired each vane may be welded to its carrier by any suitable method such as by eiecting a copper-hydrogen weld .between an edge of the vane and the carrier, and during this operation the folded over portion of the tabs 33, 34, I5, 45 can also be similarly welded to the carrieror may be spot-welded thereto. When the foregoing copper-hydrogen welding is femployed, these tabs serve to preventdistortioniof the structure due to the action of the relatively high temperature present during such operation.

AThev baille portion 4I extending into the uid working chamber has the elTect of interrupting the relatively high circulation velocity of the fluid in the working chamber and thereby increase the slip condition between the impeller and runner structure, particularly when it is desired to maintain the motor vehicle at rest with the engine operating at an idling speed, it being understood that under these conditions iluid is being transferred from the impeller structure to the runner structure at the radially outer portion.

locity, the baille does not interfere with iluid cirl vculation inasmuch as the path of flow has moved radially outwardly beyond the baille.

I claim: In a fabricated fluid coupling of the kinetic `type including juxtaposed vaned impeller and runner structures cooperating to form a fluid working chamber, hub means for rotatably mounting said runner structure, said runner structure including av dished sheet metal, vane carrier having an annular radially extending flange at the radially outer portion thereof and a series of circumferentially spaced notches adjacent said portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending sheet metal vanes deilning fluid passages in said runner structure. each of said vanes having a tab projecting through a notch of said series and deformed to overlap the surface of the carrier exterior to said chamber, a baille member secured to said hub means for rotation 'with said runner structure andhaving a portion thereof overlying the radially inner portion of said passages and abutting an edge of said vanes, said baille having a series of circumferentially spaced tab receiving notches ,and each of said vanes having a tab deformed into securing engagement with a respective baille notch, said tabs being tapered wherebyto effect wedging engagement with their respective notches.

. CARL A. NERACHER. 

